The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

SECTION XVII

Sanjaya said,—­“Just as the holy Krishna-Dwaipayana
Vyasa had said, in that very manner the kings of the
Earth, mustered together, came to the encounter.
On that day on which the battle commenced Soma approached
the region of Pitris.[92] The seven large planets,
as they appeared in the firmament, all looked blazing
like fire.[93] The Sun, when he rose, seemed to be
divided in twain. Besides, that luminary, as it
appeared in the firmament, seemed to blaze forth in
flames.[94] Carnivorous jackals and crows, expecting
dead bodies to feast upon, began to utter fierce cries
from all directions that seemed to be ablaze.
Every day the old grandsire of the Kurus, and the
son of Bharadwaja, rising from bed in the morning,
with concentrated mind, said,—­’Victory
to the sons of Pandu’—­while those
chastisers of foes used (at the same time) yet to
fight for thy sake according to the pledge they had
given. Thy father Devavrata, fully conversant
with every duty, summoning all the kings, said these
words (unto them). ’Ye Kshatriyas, this
broad door is open to you for entering heaven.
Go ye through it to the region of Sakra and Brahman.
The Rishis of olden times have showed you this eternal
path.[95] Honour ye yourselves by engaging in battle
with attentive minds. Nabhaga, and Yayati, and
Mandhatri, and Nahusa, and Nriga, were crowned with
success and obtained the highest region of bliss by
feats like these. To die of disease at home is
sin for a Kshatriya. The death he meets with in
battle is his eternal duty.’—­Thus
addressed, O bull of Bharata’s race, by Bhishma,
the kings, looking beautiful in their excellent cars,
proceeded to the heads of their respective divisions.
Only Vikartana’s son Karna, with his friends
and relatives, O bull of Bharata’s race, laid
aside his weapons in battle for the sake of Bhishma.
Without Karna then, thy sons and all the kings on
thy side proceeded, making the ten points of the horizon
resound with their leonine roars. And their divisions
shone brightly, O king, with white umbrellas, banners,
standards, elephants, steeds, cars, and foot-soldiers.
And the Earth was agitated with the sounds of drums
and tabors and cymbals, and the clatter of car-wheels.
And the mighty car-warriors, decked with their bracelets
and armlets of gold and with their bows (variegated
with gold), looked resplendent like hills of fire.
And with his large palmyra-standard decked with five
stars, Bhishma, the generalissimo of the Kuru army,[96]
looked like the resplendent Sun himself. Those
mighty bowmen of royal birth, O bull of Bharata’s
race, that were on thy side, all took up their positions,
O king, as Santanu’s son ordered. (King) Saivya
of the country of the Govasanas, accompanied by all
the monarchs, went out on a princely elephant worthy
of royal use and graced with a banner on its back.
And Aswatthaman, of the complexion of the lotus, went
out ready for every emergency, stationing himself